Kimmel Controversy Takes a Turn, Surprise DeSantis Power Play, Royal Visit | 4/28/26 FIRST LOOK

0:03Hey everybody, it's Tuesday, April 28th, 2026. I'm Dave Rubin and this is First Look. We've got a packed show for you today. President Trump goes after Jimmy Kimmel and ABC after a controversial joke about Melania. Ron DeSantis unveils a redistricting plan that could hand Republicans four more seats in Congress. And King Charles arrives in the U.S. for a major state visit. All right, let's dive in. We start with a media firestorm that's quickly turning into something much bigger. President Trump is calling on ABC and Disney to fire Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the late night host made a controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump.

0:47During a monologue ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner, Kimmel mocked the event and said, our First Lady Melania is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. You have a glow like an expectant widow. Now, on its own, that's already a pretty ugly line. But here's where this story changes. Just days later, at that same correspondence dinner, there was an actual violent incident. A 31-year-old man named Cole Allen charged a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, attempting to reach the ballroom where President Trump, Melania, Vice President J.D. Vance, and top officials were gathered.

1:27Shots were fired. A Secret Service agent was hit, thankfully in a ballistic vest, and survived. The suspect was tackled and taken into custody. Inside the ballroom, chaos broke out. Trump, Melania, and others had to be rushed offstage, crawling and being escorted out under heavy security. So now, in that context, a joke about Melania being an expectant widow hits very differently. President Trump responded on Truth Social saying Kimmel should be immediately fired, calling him unfunny, low-rated, and accusing him of making a shocking and inappropriate statement. He also criticized Kimmel for airing a fake video showing Melania and Barron Trump appearing to sit in his studio, something Trump said was deceptive and something they would never do.

2:18Melania Trump responded directly as well, calling Kimmel a coward who hides behind ABC and accusing the network of protecting him. She said, enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, who was seated next to Melania at the dinner and is nine months pregnant, added that Melania was anything but glowing during the incident, pointing out how absurd and offensive the joke now looks. And stepping back, this isn't the first time Kimmel has been in hot water. He was previously suspended in 2025 after backlash over comments tied to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

2:57And even then, he didn't fully apologize. So now the question is simple. At what point does this stop being comedy and start being something more dangerous? Next up, a major political battle that could reshape Congress. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has unveiled a new congressional map that could give Republicans four additional seats in the House. Right now, Florida has 20 Republican-held seats and seven Democratic seats, with one currently vacant. Under this new proposal, that Republican advantage would grow, potentially giving the GOP a much stronger position going into the 2026 midterms. DeSantis says this is about correcting an imbalance.

3:40He argues Florida was shortchanged in the 2020 census, and since then, the state's population has exploded, with Republicans now holding roughly a 1.5 million voter registration advantage. He also made it clear he believes the current maps are flawed, saying drawing districts based on race is unconstitutional and shouldn't be allowed. Now, the Republican-controlled state legislature still has to approve the plan, but if they do, it goes right back to DeSantis for final sign-off. Democrats are not taking this lightly. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded with a blunt warning. Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out.

4:24He accused Republicans of trying to rig the system and warned it could backfire politically. But DeSantis fired right back, and frankly, he sounded pretty confident. He invited Jeffries to come down to Florida, campaign for Democrats, and even joked that he'd put him up in the governor's mansion and take him fishing. And zoom out, this isn't just Florida. Virginia just passed a measure that could flip several Republican seats to Democrats. California is doing the same, with projections showing Democrats gaining multiple seats there. So this is a nationwide battle over control of Congress, and Florida just became one of the biggest fronts in that fight.

5:06And finally, a historic visit with some very real-world tension behind it. King Charles and Queen Camilla have officially arrived in the United States for their first visit as monarchs. They landed Monday afternoon at Joint Base Andrews, marking the first time a British monarch has visited the US since Queen Elizabeth's trip back in 2007. They were welcomed by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House shortly after landing. This is a four-day state visit, and it's a big one. It's tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence, and is meant to highlight the deep relationship between the US and the United Kingdom, economically, culturally, and militarily.

5:46But again, the timing matters. This visit is happening just days after the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Despite that, Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip would move forward. King Charles and Queen Camilla even reached out privately to Trump and Melania to express sympathy and thank the security services, who prevented something far worse. Now, the itinerary is packed. In Washington, they'll attend a ceremonial military review, hold meetings with leadership, and attend a full state dinner at the White House. King Charles will also deliver an address to Congress, only the second time a British monarch has done that.

6:20After D.C., they head to New York, where they'll meet first responders and families connected to 9-11, marking the 25th anniversary. They'll also visit community programs, including organizations helping children facing food insecurity, and events focused on economic ties between the US and the UK. Then it's on to Virginia, where they'll meet local groups, attend cultural performances, and take part in events celebrating America's 250th birthday. So yes, this is diplomacy, but it's also symbolic. At a moment when the world feels unstable, this visit is about reinforcing alliances, and showing that those relationships still matter.

6:58All right, that's your first look this morning. A lot moving, media accountability, political battles heating up, and some major global optics playing out here at home. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with First Look. We'll see you tomorrow.